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64 Times Dogs Surprised Humans With Their Incredibly Heroic Acts

Many of us, especially those of us who grew up with TV classics like Lassie, have a soft spot for heroic dogs.

Dogs are everyday heroes in so many ways, from guide dogs to rescue dogs and those that keep us safe by sniffing out explosives and drugs, there are countless 'tails' of man’s best friend standing up and doing amazing things. Sometimes dogs are heroes just by being our companions, loyal and non-judgemental friends we can always rely on when times are 'ruff.'

Here at Bored Panda we have decided to compile a list of just some of those stories, courageous canines that took on situations by the scruff of the neck and emerged victorious. Scroll down below to check them out, and feel free to add your own stories in the comments!

#1

Layka The Hero Military Dog. Despite Getting Shot 4 Times By An Ak-47 At Point Blank Range, She Still Attacked And Subdued The Insurgent Who Was Attacking Her Handler She Survived A 7 Hour Surgery And Was Recently Awarded A Medal For Her Heroism

Dog Saves Owner’s Life By Lying On Him For Nearly 24 Hours In Freezing Conditions

A man who broke his neck outdoors in freezing conditions survived lying in snow for nearly 24 hours thanks to his dog, who kept him warm through the night and barked for help. Anticipating a journey of only several metres, man was wearing just long johns, a shirt and slippers when he went outside, despite the temperature being around -4C. However, he slipped and broke his neck. Kelsey, five-year-old Golden Retriever, kept him warm by lying on top of him, and kept him awake by licking his hands and face

Maggie Snuck Out Of Her Kennel At Night To Comfort Crying Foster Puppies

Our house caught fire at 2 am in November, 2016. Our dog Molly woke us up. She saved the lives of 7 people, 2 dogs, and 4 cats. She was blind and given 2 months to live 4 months before the fire. 2 years later, and she is still alive and kicking. We take her to the vet weekly to get fluid drained from her lungs. She is still happy and wagging.

This Is Frida - The Good Girl Who Saved 52 People From Mexico's Earthquake

A Woman Saved A Pit Bull Just Hours Before He Was Scheduled To Be Euthanized And Less Than A Week Later It Returned The Favor When He Helped Save Her 4-Year-Old Son

A woman saved a pit bull named TatorTot just hours before he was scheduled to be euthanized and less than a week later TatorTot returned the favor when he helped save her 4-year-old son. That night the pit bull began barking and running back and forth between woman and her son. She thought that TatorTot just hadn’t exercised out all of his energy, but the pit bull wouldn’t give up until she finally went to check on her son. He was barely breathing, TatorTot was on his bed, barking and pawing at him, licking his face.

Chako Saved His Owner From An Abusive Partner Who Threatened Her With A Knife, Taking 12 Stab Wounds

Pit Bull Lilly Saved Her Unconscious Owner From Getting Hit By A Freight Train By Covering Her Body And Taking The Hit Herself

One late evening in May 2012, a freight train conductor riding in Shirley, Massachusetts saw the silhouette of a person and a dog on the tracks ahead. He radioed for the train to stop, but could tell there wasn’t going to be enough time. Christine Spain had tripped on the tracks while walking her dog, Lilly, and fell unconscious. The conductor saw that the silhouette was moving — Lilly was attempting to pull her immobilized owner off the tracks. As the train passed over the pair, the conductor claims to have felt a thump. When he was able to safely exit the train, he found Spain unscathed; Lilly had covered her owner and took the hit for her.
While waiting for emergency services, Lilly continued to watch over Spain, though the dog herself was suffering from extreme injuries, including to her front right leg, which had to be amputated in surgery.

Whenever I'm Sick, My Dog Thinks His Love Is The Cure

Pitbull Baby Saved The Entire Family When Fire Broke Out In Their House One Night, While Everyone Was Asleep. She Not Only Alerted The Family, But Ran Back Into The Flames To Rescue The Five Family Dogs, Even Dragging One Scared Pooch Out Of The Burning House

Feral Dog Rex Was Rescued And Adopted By Ed Gernon. The Dog Found A Dying Hummingbird "Hummer" While Out On A Walk And Refused To Leave The Tiny Bird. Ed Ended Up Taking Her In And The Pair Nursed Her Back To Health

Kabang - A Dog That Lost Half Her Face When She Knocked Over A Motorcycle, Saving Two Children From A Crash

When Jerry Flanigan Was Attacked By Two Pitbulls, His Pet Dog Katy Mae Got On Top Of Him, Shielding His Neck Area With Her Body. According To The Vet She Could've Died As One Of The Bites Was Next To Her Jugular

Dog Named Max Took Three Bullets To Save His Owner When They Were Attacked By Two Armed Robbers

Rescue Dog Duke Burst Into Woman's Bedroom, Jumped On The Bed And Began Shaking Uncontrollably. She And Her Husband Decided To Check On Their 9-Week-Old Daughter In Her Bassinet And Discovered The Unthinkable: She Wasn’t Breathing. If Duke Hadn’t Been So Scared, Then They Would Have Just Gone To Sleep

On A Cold Winter Night This Dog Found An Abandoned Baby In A Field. She Carried Her Back To The Pen Where She Kept Her Warm Through The Night

On December 12, 2008 in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, a dog named China was honored with the Shining World Hero Award by Supreme Master Ching Hai, for her brave maternal love. On a frigid winter night China found an abandoned baby girl in a field and carried her back to the pen that held her own newborn pups. Together with her pups China kept the baby warm through the night until her human caretaker heard the cries of the infant and took her to the local hospital for medical attention. The baby was aptly named “Esperanza,” meaning hope, at the hospital.

Dog Saved Another Dog That Was Buried Alive

Man was walking his dog who began behaving peculiarly, and he noticed the dog buried up to her head. Only her head was visible and it was difficult to see given the amount of earth covering her. She was surrounded by rocks and also she was attached to a large sack filled with gravel (to keep her from escaping). Thanks to a dog and owner who happened to see her head emerging from the ground the buried dog survived

Dog Named Buster Saved His Owner By Alerting His Wife

"Our Hero Buster came into our lives when my husband started a job that required him to travel. I looked for a puppy and found the best friend ever. Soon after Buster came into our lives my husband became very sick. After multiple hospital stays and surgeries he came home from the hospital. Buster was 10 months. My husband was sleeping downstairs in our living room, he was unable to use the stairs after his operation. Buster and I were sleeping upstairs, we were having a terrible ice storm that night. Buster woke me up barking. That wasn't like him. He's not a barker..I thought he may have heard a snow plow outside, but I realized he wasn't barking at the window, but he was barking at the bedroom doorway. I decided since I was awake I would check on my husband. It was a good thing I did, when we got downstairs my husband was unconscious on the floor. He had gotten up and blacked out. He hit his face on a piece of furniture and cut his face. When I got him to the hospital his blood pressure was 55/30. The doctors said if I hadn't found him when I did he very likely would have stroked out and possibly died...If it wasn't for Buster I never would have gone down to check on my husband, I didn't hear him fall but Buster did..My husband thanks Buster everyday for saving his life."

By 11:10 we could see the first of the flames across the valley. By 11:15 they were growing larger and the winds went mad. We had loaded up the dogs and cats, but Odin, our stubborn and fearless Great Pyrenees would not leave the goats.
Even under the best of circumstances it is nearly impossible to separate Odin from the goats after nightfall when he takes over the close watch from his sister Tessa. I made a decision to leave him, and I doubt I could have made him come with us if I tried. We got out with our lives and what was in our pockets.
Cars behind us on Mark West Springs Road were pouring flames out of the windows as they roared down the road. Later that morning when we had outrun the fires I cried, sure that I had sentenced Odie to death, along with our precious family of bottle-raised goats.
Today, we were able to make it back to the smoldering wasteland of our forest. Every structure is in ruins. Trees are still burning.
Yet, eight goats came running to see us and get cuddles and kisses. Dixon has a burn on his back the size of a nickel. Other than that they are perfectly fine. Odin’s fur is burned and his whiskers melted. He is limping on his right leg. And he has adopted several baby deer who huddle around him for safety and water from their trough, which is miraculously intact and full of relatively clean water.
We dropped off several bails of orchard grass and gave them fresh water. Tomorrow we hope to reunite them all with his sister Tessa. I’m sure Odin believes she is perished. I can’t wait to see their faces when they see each other.
Odin has lived up to his namesake. Pray for him and his charges. He is our inspiration. If he can be so fearless in this maelstrom, surely so can we

Sergeant Stubby Was A World War I Hero Dog Who Saved His Regiment From Surprise Mustard Gas Attacks And Once Caught A German Soldier By The Seat Of His Pants

He served for 18 months and participated in seventeen battles on the Western Front. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and once caught a German soldier by the seat of his pants, holding him there until American soldiers found him. Sgt. Stubby is the subject of an upcoming animated film, scheduled for release in April 2018.

Roselle, A Labrador Retriever Guide Dog Who Led Her Owner Michael Hingson From The 78th Floor And Away From The Collapsing Buildings

Roselle had led Hingson through the noise, smoke and rubble of the office to descend the stairway. Once on ground level in the middle of the human panic Roselle remained focused as they continued walking away from the chaos.
When they were about two blocks away, Tower 2 began to collapse. To escape the ash and debris, they started running for the subway. Roselle eventually guided Michael to the home of a friend in mid-Manhattan where they stayed until the trains were running again. They were finally able to arrive home in New Jersey after seven that night.

Mercey Protected His Owner From 4 Male Invaders After They Pushed Their Way Into The Apartment Of A 30-Year-Old Female Victim. The Dog Jumped To Protect Her Owner And Suffered Life Threatening Injuries In The Attack With A Machete

Erick Robertson Pets Porkchop, A One-Year-Old Search And Rescue Dog, As He Receives Fluids Intravenously To Treat Dehydration From Days Of Work At Ground Zero After 9/11 Attacks

K-9 Officer Kasper Was Shot Protecting His Partner

On Monday, May 12, 2017, deputies investigated an officer involved shooting in Jupiter. The subject was a suspect in a robbery and he opened fire on the deputies as they attempted to apprehend him. K9 Casper, a bomb detection and patrol dog, was on scene and was struck during the exchange of gunfire, taking a bullet meant for his handler. Casper was rushed into surgery and has since returned home to continue his recovery.

Peaches The Wonder Pit Started Out As A Rescue Dog Scheduled To Be Euthanized, But Was Rescued And Became Not Only A Therapy Dog Lending Emotional Support For People, Like Boston Marathon Bombing Witnesses, But Also American Pit Bull Foundation's Mascot

Pit Bull Lefty Jumped In Front Of Her Owner And Took A Bullet When They Were Attacked. The Dog Suffered Extreme Injuries And Her Leg Had To Be Amputated

A Dog Who Survived Horrific Animal Cruelty Saved The Life Of A 3-Year-Old Girl

“About 11am this morning, Peanut started going crazy at our house,” reads the text of a letter written by her new owner and shared in the post. “She was running up and down the stairs, barking and yelping. She then went and got my husband, who was in the garage working on some projects, and alerted him that she wanted to go outside. He said he could hear her running around upstairs but didn’t understand why.”
It turns out there was a very good reason for Peanut’s behavior, the dog apparently sensed something was amiss outside.
“He let her outside where she went barreling into the field behind our house at full speed,” the letter says. “My husband followed her and to his surprise, he found a naked, shivering, 3 year old girl curled up in a ball. He scooped her up, wrapped her in his sweatshirt, and brought her inside. He called 911 and reported the incident.”

Atlas - Service Dog

After coming home from Iraq, Atlas' owner struggled with PTSD. After regular visits to VA doctor, he ended up on a cocktail of 33 pills that left him feeling hazy and helpless. Wanting to make a change he adopted Atlas, who has turned out to be a lifesaver. Atlas has been trained to sense the changes in his owner that precede a terrifying flashback and respond by redirecting his owner's attention. With this support, her owner feels in control of his life once again and is a more active part of his family. Atlas is also the "face" of, and inspiration behind the creation of The Battle Buddy Foundation, a beacon of hope to many other veterans struggling to cope.

Luca - Search And Rescue Dog

On March 15, 2016, Fort Worth Police were dispatched to find a missing endangered male with Alzheimer's lost near a salvage yard. After an extensive search, the police called in Luca, a retired Search-and-Rescue (SAR) German Shepherd, for help. Luca's former handler and current dog dad Officer Brock believed 10-year-old Luca was up for the task. Luca easily fell back into his training and used his SAR skills to search for the missing man, eventually locating an opening of brush which led to a very steep hill followed by a drop-off. Due to terrain, a PD helicopter responded and immediately observed the lost man in the river, stuck in waist-high mud. Had Luca not tracked the man's trail and located him, the man could've drowned in the cold, fast-moving river. Luca's love and dedication to SAR shows the resilience of older dogs and how training doesn't go away just because they retire.

Aladdin - Therapy Dog

Aladdin was found severely emaciated in 2013. He was missing 12 teeth and had open wounds. Both of his back legs and tail had been broken. Despite this, his tail never stopped wagging. Aladdin had a rough recovery but he overcame the obstacles put before him, including learn to trust humans again. Within the year he was a certified therapy dog and an unstoppable multi-hyphenate. Aladdin is a Ronald McDonald House Ambassador dog, visiting schools to help with anti-bullying programs. He is also a trained crisis response dog and spent a week in Orlando last year after the Pulse nightclub shooting doing therapy visits and fundraising for the Victims Fund. He works with the Philadelphia Police fundraising for the Fallen Officers Fund and attends the events they do with special needs children. He is an ambassador dog for Tito's Vodka for Dog People Campaign and together they have raised over $300,000 for rescues and shelters all over. He also works with veterans and PACT for Animals and as a model/ambassador for Show Your Soft Side, a nationwide animal abuse campaign.

The Dog Named Orlando Saved A Life Of His Blind Owner. He Attempted To Stop His Unconscious Owner From Falling Onto The New York City Subway Tracks. Both Fell But Escaped Injury

Pit Bull, Creature, Found Missing 89-Year-Old In Piscataway Woods

“Creature” had come across Carmen Mitchell, who suffers from dementia on one of his night walks. Mitchell was laying in the woods, barefoot and covered in dirt, about a half a mile away from her Piscataway home, shivering from cold.

Franklin Is A Really Good Boy. He Loves People, Is Outgoing, And Never Barks. He Was Never Trained To Be Like That, It's Just His Temperament. He Got My Cousin Through A Very Difficult Time And Deserves Some Props. He's A Hero

Adak - Military Dog

Adak is a 13-year-old German Shepherd. His longevity and accomplishments as an explosive detection dog are unmatched. He was a Contract Working Dog for the U.S. State Department in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Army, Ft. McCoy and for a private business. During this career, Adak has sniffed out explosives before they could detonate during large events, assisted in rescuing hostages during complex terrorist attacks and has helped to protect dignitaries across the globe. He is now retired and has easily transitioned into a undramatic home life.

Ice - Law Enforcement/arson Dog

On July 21, 2016, a team of officers from the U.S. Forest Service and deputies from the Trinity County Sheriff's Office were investigating an illegal marijuana garden on public lands within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Two suspects attempted to flee and Ice was deployed to capture one of the suspects. As Ice was apprehending the suspect, the suspect stabbed the dog twice with a large knife. Despite Ice's serious wounds, Ice held the suspect until they were in custody. Ice's handler and the team bandaged the dog's wounds and took turns carrying him through rugged terrain until reaching a helicopter that could airlift the dog to a hospital. Ice has since made a full recovery and has returned to duty.

Puppy Woke His New Family To Save Them From Dangerous Fumes

Just two weeks after finding a forever home, the Husky-mix puppy Hunter thanked his adoptive family by rescuing them right back. The family says they were awakened around midnight to a barking dog who led them to their kitchen, where a burner had been emitting dangerous fumes for six hours

Man Was Walking With His Yellow Lab-Mix Henry When They Were Confronted With Two Cubs And A Larger Black Bear. The Dog Saved His Owner Life By Attacking The Bear While He Kept Striking It With A Rock. They Were Able To Escape, But Both Suffered Serious Injuries

Dog Named Major Saved His Owner's Life By Dialing 911 After The Man Collapsed From A Seizure. Major Was Never Trained To Do That

Dog Alerts Sleeping Family To Burning Hairbrush, Saving Them From Toxic Smoke

Before the night husband was sterilizing a plastic hairbrush on the stove for his wife. He filled a pot with water, added the brush, and there it sat. The family forgot about the pot and eventually went to bed. Luckily, that day family watched a friend’s dog, Pomeranian-poodle mix named Bandit. He jumped on woman’s chest, barking again and again. Eventually, the barking and jumping woke her up and saved all the family